Curable dry film lubricant for titanium alloys

Abstract

A dry film, low coefficient of friction lubricant for titanium pieces is prepared by mixing together solid lubricant particles, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), a suspending agent, and a curable resin in an evaporable carrier. The mixture is applied to titanium or titanium alloy surfaces that contact each other in service. The carrier is evaporated during a subsequent thermal cure, leaving a lubricating film on the surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lubricated titanium rotor and blade assembly, comprising: a titanium rotor having a dovetail slot in the circumference thereof;   a titanium blade having a dovetail sized to fit into the slot, there being mating faces on the dovetail and in the interior of the slot; and   a curable lubricant applied to the mating surface of at least one of the dovetail of the blade and the rotor slot, wherein the curable lubricant consists essentially of, on a non-carrier basis, a mixture of from 20 to 30 percent by weight poly(tetrafluoroethylene), from 35 to 45 percent by weight solid lubricant particles, from 1 to 3 percent by weight bentonite, from 30 to 40 percent by weight resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, phenolic resin and acrylic resin, and an evaporable carrier, the evaporable carrier present in an amount sufficient to permit the application of the curable lubricant by spraying.   
     
     
       2. A lubricated titanium rotor and blade assembly, comprising: a titanium rotor having a dovetail slot in the circumference thereof;   a titanium blade having a dovetail sized to fit into the slot, there being mating faces on the dovetail and in the interior of the slot; and   a curable lubricant applied to the mating surface of at least one of the dovetail of the blade and the rotor slot, wherein the curable lubricant consists essentially of, on a non-carrier basis, a mixture of 24 percent by weight poly(tetrafluoroethylene), 38 percent by weight solid lubricant particles, 2 percent by weight bentonite, 36 percent by weight resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, phenolic resin and acrylic resin, and an evaporable carrier, the evaporable carrier present in an amount sufficient to permit the application of the curable lubricant by spraying.